Obama meets with donors at Radisson

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - President Barack Obama attended a donor reception at the Kalamazoo Radisson hotel before serving as the keynote speaker at Kalamazoo Central High School's graduation ceremony Monday evening.

He is rumored to have left the event around 5:30 p.m., spectators told 24 Hour News 8. Obama had a quick procession in and out.

Some people waited outside the hotel for about two to three hours in hopes of catching a glimpse of Obama. However, he didn't come through the front entrance and instead, used a special location to enter the Radisson -- owned by Greenleaf Realty and the Stryker family, which is rumored to be behind the Kalamazoo Promise.

Obama met with about 40 people in two rooms, according to some of the event's attendees. A Detroit-area attorney who once represented Jack Kevorkian said it was a "thrill" to meet the president.

"The President, as always, is very impressive," said Chuck Newman, who was inside the meeting. "He was very committed to education -- that was very much clear -- and appreciative of what's been going on in Kalamazoo, and thinks it's a role model for the rest of the country. He was very comfortable and generally, very pleased."

Obama arrived and departed in a long motorcade with about 20 vehicles. His commencement address is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Kalamazoo Central High School.